Apply by Mail

1. To Apply for Seed Analysis Certificate, the applicant has to approach the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing Service link
2. The applicant has to write the written request letter to the respective office.
3. The applicant has to write all the necessary details in the letter.
4. Make sure that the applicant has to attach all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant has to attach the photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting.
6. Mail the completed form and the necessary documents alone with the sample to the Seed Regulatory and Testing Division.
7. Fee for this procedure has to be paid as per the authority’s request.
8. Samples are tested for the factors requested by the applicant for the service.
9. Once all the verification process is done by the authority, the applicant receives a notification through a mail.
10. The applicant can get the testing result by visiting the office.
11. While collecting the testing report pay the prescribed fee as per the authority’s request.
12. The processing time for this procedure is within the stipulated period of time.

• Written letter
• Testing sample
• list of the noxious weeds
• Request for duplicate certificates if needed

U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Agriculture Marketing Service
Send samples for testing to:
Seed Regulatory and Testing Division
801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-2193
Phone: (704) 810-8870
Fax: (704) 852-4189
Contact link
Field office link
Service centre link

• Any business person who intends to Apply for Seed Testing Service are eligible to make this application.

• Fee for this procedure has to be paid as per the authority’s request.

• The validity is for one-time use.

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The processing time for this procedure takes up to 15 to 30 days.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&>
from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Applicant must complete the application form before submitting. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicant must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.

• Scientific name and common name
• Seed lot number and other identifying marks
• Type of tests requested (such as purity, noxious-weed seed, germination, moisture, etc.)
• Which rules for testing: ISTA, AOSA, or FSA
• Name of seed treatment, treated seed samples must be submitted in sealed plastic bags

• The Seed Regulatory and Testing Division (SRTD) tests agricultural and vegetable seeds to ensure the efficient, orderly marketing of seeds and to assist in the development of new or expanding markets.
• The following tests are offered: purity, germination, noxious weed seed examination, moisture, seed count, tetrazolium viability, standard vigor tests (conductivity, cold germination, accelerated aging), variety (growth chamber and field), and tests for certain seed-borne diseases.

For more information link

• Seed testing or analysis is required to assess the seed quality attributes of the seed lots which have to be offered for sale.
• The purpose of seed certification is to maintain and make available to the public, through certification, high quality seeds and propagating materials of notified kind and varieties so grown and distributed as to ensure genetic identity and genetic purity.

Link

• USDA Seed Analysis Certificates will include a statement regarding the seed as an official sample.
• Each official sample must be accompanied by the authorized seed sampler’s documentation in addition to the customer’s request for analysis.
• A seed sample that is not accompanied by the authorized seed sampler’s report will not be considered as an official sample but will be tested according to customer request, and the resulting USDA Seed Analysis Certificate will not make any reference to an official sample.